Search - Mass :: Take You Home

Near-perfect melodic metal EP

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 07/24/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Take Me Home was the 1988 EP from Christian metal band Mass. I first heard Mass through their Michael Sweet-produced album Voices in the Night and wasn't terribly impressed. I took a chance on Take Me Home though, and man am I glad I did. It's like a totally different band. The closest points of comparison are probably Saint and Bloodgood, but I hear similarities to bands like Leatherwolf and Lizzy Borden as well. The EP is so full of hard-charging metallic guitar riffs and powerful melodies it could have been a Metal Blade release.



Mass is, of course, a Christian band, and the lyrics on Take Me Home reflect this. They're not too over the top evangelical though, so it shouldn't turn off those who are just looking for a good metal album.



Take Me Home is just a smokin' disc of high-octane melodic metal that I'd have to consider a must-have release for Christian metal fans and one that most 80's hard rock fans will enjoy as well. It's a shame the band went in a softer, watered-down direction on Voices in the Night. I would have liked to have heard more Mass albums like this EP.



PS - I caught Mass live at the M3 fest recently, and they are a really solid live act. They did an impressive rendition of Black Sabbath's "Heaven and Hell" in memory of Ronnie James Dio, which I thought was an especially classy tribute.



Track Listing:



1. Pedal to the Metal

2. Can't Get Enough

3. Want It Back

4. Over You

5. Take You Home

6. Holy One"